On January 19, the NACP and the Council of Europe presented recommendations for the development of public ethics policy at the local level. The recommendations are aimed at solving problems related to the implementation of the rules of ethical behavior by local council members and local government officials. The Council of Europe's Centre of Expertise for Good Governance prepared the document within the framework of the Strengthening Good Democratic Governance and Resilience in Ukraine Program at the request of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).
The State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025 envisages conducting a study on this topic and implementing its results.
"One of the NACP's priorities is to create and promote a culture of integrity, including at the local level. Last year, we launched ongoing cooperation with the regions and signed the Declaration on Building the Integrity of Local Governments with more than 20 communities. It is extremely important to have a systematic and comprehensive approach to ethics at the local level, which can change the rules of conduct and increase the efficiency of local governments," said Iaroslav Liubchenko, Acting Head of the NACP.
According to Mr.Liubchenko, this is also important in the context of ensuring transparent reconstruction processes in the affected communities.
During the event, the participants discussed key issues in the field and further steps to improve the regulation of ethical behavior in local governments, the separation of corruption prevention and ethical behavior, etc.
The experts identified the following key problems in the field of public ethics: lack of strategies, fragmentation of legal regulation, and the need to synchronize it with the legislation on corruption prevention.
Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, emphasized that decentralization in Ukraine has become one of the most successful reforms in Europe, and strong regions have become even more important during the full-scale invasion.
"Democracy depends heavily on public trust. Strong trust in public representatives at the local level, namely all persons authorized to perform local government functions, is the foundation for the successful development of the state," said Maciej Janczak.
Mykhailo Netiazhuk, Mayor of Fastiv, shared his experience in developing codes of ethics. Thus, in Fastiv, back in 2020, a draft Code of Ethics was developed to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the city, and in 2021, the Code was adopted and the relevant amendments were made to the regulations of the city council.
The Council of Europe provided recommendations on the need to:
- improving the legislative framework on public ethics at the local level in Ukraine;
- develop model codes and rules of conduct adapted to specific groups of public representatives at the local level;
- provide awareness-raising and training on the codes and rules of conduct;
- ensure the provision of confidential advice;
- establishing a mechanism for oversight and enforcement, as well as a set of sanctions in cases of violation of the code,
- clear division of powers between different institutions in this area.
The event was organized by the NACP jointly with the Council of Europe Program "Strengthening Good Democratic Governance and Resilience in Ukraine" in partnership with the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities.
For reference
In accordance with the State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025, the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption is conducting an analytical study and preparing an analytical report on the current state of problems related to the implementation of the rules of ethical behavior by local council members and elected officials of local self-government, as well as on possible mechanisms for holding these persons accountable for violating such rules. At the NACP's request, the Council of Europe's Centre of Expertise for Good Governance within the framework of the Strengthening Good Democratic Governance and Resilience in Ukraine Program provides advisory support for the relevant study with the assistance of the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities.
In June-October 2023, a study was conducted in the form of surveys of local government officials and local council members on compliance with the rules of ethical behavior by persons authorized to perform local government functions. A generalized report was prepared based on its results.
